Holding means for interchangeable cleaning elements



July 20, 1954 NEUMANN 2,683,886

HOLDING MEANS FOR INTERCHANGEABLE CLEANING ELEMENTS Filed Oct. 9, 195

Matthew Neumann M 48 INVENTOR.

MW 5% 56 BY Wm Patented July 20, 1954 HOLDING MEANS FOR INTERCHANGEABLE CLEANING ELEMENTS Matthew Neumann, Fair Haven, Va.

Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,204

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to means for holding cleaning elements such as brushes, sponges and mops, and more particularly to holding a plurality of such elements simultaneously.

The primary object of the invention is to provide holding means for cleaning elements so that these cleaning elements may be interchangeable and replaceable with utmost ease.

Another object of this invention is to provide holding means for cleaning elements whereby a central or main cleaning element such as a large sponge or mop is held primarily by jaws in the device, and secondarily by other cleaning elements or the mounting means therefor, the laterally disposed cleaning elements or the mounting means thereof comprising auxiliary holding means for the main or central cleaning elementv Specifically the invention is illustrated as utilizing the blocks used for holding the secondary cleaning elements as jaw-like means engaging a portion of the central cleaning element projecting beyond the forward ends of the main jaws.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for actuating and holding the jaws.

The last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide holding means for cleaning elements which will be generally practicable and inexpensive to manufacture, which will be safe and convenient to use, and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in this specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a view, in perspective, of the assembled device, the handle being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, such as shown in Figure 1, with the cleaning members assembled to the device;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of this same structure but with a strandtype mop substituted for the central sponge.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the like numerals relate to like parts throughout the specification and throughout the different views in the drawing. The handle Ill has rigidly riveted thereto a ferrule support I2 which is extended for connection to a fixed jaw M, as by riveting at Hi. This jaw I4 is transversely elongated and of angular cross-section. A similarly shaped movable jaw 18 is similarly riveted to a lever 20 having an extension 22 and pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of the ferrule support l2 by means of a cotter pin 24 or similar device inserted through apertures in the ferrule support [2 and in intermediate portions of the levers 20, it being understood that two levers 20 will be provided, one being disposed on each side of the ferrule support l2.

An aperture 26 is provided in an intermediate portion of the ferrule support l2 to receive the end 28 of a helical spring 30 which is coaxially arranged exteriorly of the portion of the ferrule support I2 remote from the jaws l4 and IS. The other end of the spring 30 is pivoted to a latch lever 32, as indicated at 34, and a pair of inflexible links 36 are pivotally secured to lugs 31 which are integral with the latch lever 32 and which straddle the ferrule support [2 when the latch lever is in looking position, the other ends of the links 36 being pivoted to the lever extensions 22. If reference be had to Figure 2, it will be clear how the latch lever is moved into jawreleasing position, at which time the pivotal connections 38 of the links 36 will be moved into the position indicated at 40, thus releasing the aws.

The main or central cleaning elements 42 or 44, illustrated as a large sponge or mop, respectively, will be clamped between the jaws l4 and I8 and will extend therefrom. Cleaning element holding members 46 and 48 are disposed in opposing relation on the outside of the jaws l4 and I8, these elements 46 and 48 being illustrated as of block character and being provided with pins having shank portions rotatively mounted in the block members 46 and 48 and having transversely elongated pins, the pin shanks being indicated at 49 and the heads being indicated at 59. In a simple form of this invention, the said pins may be simple screw eyes. The angles of the jaws l4 and 18 are provided with elongated apertures or slots 52 in the embodiment illustrated, these apertures being located adjacent each end of each jaw. The width of the apertures is less than the dimension of the heads 50 measured transversely of the shanks 49, so that when the heads 50 are turned or rotated after admission thereof through the apertures 52, the members 46 and 48 are rigidly held in place on the jaws l4 and [6 as indicated in the Figures 2 and 3. Finally, cleaning elements 54 and 56 are carried by the members 46 and 48,v the character of these last mentioned cleaning elements being illustrated as being a felt or fabric brush element and a bristle type brush element, respectively.

It should be carefully noted that the members 46 and 48 project beyond the forward or outer end of the jaws l4 and I8 and that the forward end of the elements 46 and 48 engage the central or main cleaning element 42 or 44 to comprise auxiliary holding means for the central or main cleaning element. In other words, the members 46 and 48 cooperate with the jaws in supporting the central cleaning element. The heads 50 also act as auxiliary means to cooperate with the jaws in holding the cleaning elements 42 or 44.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof,

taken in connection with the above recited objects of this invention and the drawings. It will be clear that the spring 30 will hold the latch lever 32 in the position shown in full line in Figure 2, after the latch member has been moved so that the pivotal connection 38 is in the position indicated in Figure 2. In other words, there is an over-center latching action which will be clearly understood from the foregoing description.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A cleaning implement comprising, in combination, an elongated handle, a pair of transversely elongated, coacting jaws on one end of the handle, a sponge mop mounted between the jaws, said jaws including angles having longitudinal slots therein, a pair of cleaning members including rigid, cooperable backs mounted on the outside portions of the jaws and engageable with the mop for clampingly securing same in conjunction with said jaws, screw eyes threaded for rotary adjustment. in said backs and engageable in the angles of the jaws through the slots for removably securing said cleaning members on the jaws, the heads of said screw eyes being engageable with the mop for aiding in the anchoring of the same between the jaws, and means for actuating one of said jaws.

invention, what is References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 603,581 Urmston May 3, 1898v 643,007 Richter Feb. 6, 1900 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,613 Great Britain June 24, 1913 222,516 Switzerland July 31, 1942 

